From sea to dying sea: Gov Richardson Policy speech on Global Sustainability

[seasat]

Bill Richardson gave a policy speech on Thursday that won praise for its substance.

Overheard yesterday after a Bill Richardson speech: "It was substantive. It wasn't just sound bites." This surprised observation came from Michael Libbie, 57, an advertising executive and radio host.

His speech was titled "Facing Down the Threats of the 21st Century" but as an oceanographer, I really like his comments on the need for improved ocean policy. Uh, maybe I should restate that to his call for an actual ocean policy (Here's a good starting point.). After Shrub Inc, has reversed decades of environmental gains, it'll take a huge effort to go back in the right direction. He is building on his initial proposal for a Marshall plan to address world poverty, environmental degradation, and social unrest. I was especially impressed when he included a call for Muhammad Yunus' method of microcredit in developing countries. A major point of his speech was that we need to address these problems in our own back yard and we can then point to our efforts to convince others to do the same.

His policy proposals are:

• Create a partnership with the UN, nonprofits, and the private sector to address these problems
  
• Meet our UN Millennium goal commitments
  
• International commission of experts on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals
  
• US lead on international debt relief, shift loans to grants, and depoliticize the World Bank
  
• US lead in primary health care and vaccines for devloping countries
  
• Microcredit in developing countries
  
• Promote education in developing countries
  
• Double development assistance to 2% of US budget
  
• Support goals of the One Campaign
  
• Clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction
  
• Prepare to aid displacement of folks due to climate change
  
• Cost effective methods for harvesting fresh water and restoring polluted waterways
  
• Promote reforestation
  
• Develop crops resistant to heat and drought for regions affected by global warming
  
• International treaties to prevent over fishing and species loss
  
• Fight cross border crime
  
• Combat all forms of smuggling
  
• Combat human trafficking.
  

Here are some of the best lines from the speech.

Our unsustainable habits extend across the land and into the ocean -- from sea to dying sea. If we continue on the present course of exploitation, world fisheries will be virtually depleted by the middle of the century. Many once-productive fisheries have already been destroyed. Only 23% of world fish stocks are in good condition.
...
The global community needs leadership that will take the bold steps necessary to address wide-scale poverty, environmental degradation, and societal unrest. I have traveled the world again and again, on many international delegations and personal missions. And it has been me -- the American -- from which the most has been asked.

And so it should be. The world expects much from America. And we must expect even more from ourselves.
...
Religion today too often tears us apart. But poverty is a case where every single religion on the face of the planet should be able to unite. I refuse to believe that there is a person on this Earth that is not disgusted by the fact that a child born in Swaziland can only expect to live half as long as a child born in the United States.
...
We cannot afford leadership that has not been tested. My colleagues in this race have my respect, but it is a simple fact that the next international deal negotiated by any one of them will be their first.

We also cannot afford another President who doesn't understand that stubbornness is not strength. Consultation with friends, coordination with allies -- and negotiation with enemies -- is not weakness. It is what you need to do to get things done. It is the basis for restoring America's international leadership.

[MH1]

1. Thanks, substance is nice for a change.

Richardson has plenty of it.

I especially like the emphasis on internationalism in those bullet points.

[muntrv]

2. I like Richardson's substance-over-style campaign. Most of all, he has the most experience.

[MH1]

3. He certainly has the most diplomatic experience

And with positive results to show for it.

I think that is the most important quality we will need in our next President - the ability to work with other countries. Richardson clearly has that. Some of the others, I'm not so sure (but any of them will be better than the current cretin-in-chief).

[Adelante]

4. I really like Richardson nt

[seasat]

5. Hey, did y'all see this review of the speech.

Even though I support Richardson, I was critical of his early debate and speech performance. He's improved dramatically. Here's the review of this speech by an Iowa Independent reporter that was previously very critical of him.

If there were an award for "most improved presidential candidate" to be awarded in 2008, no one would deserve it more than Gov. Bill Richardson. The candidate Iowans got to know through a series of satirical TV ads over the summer is no longer kidding around. On the campaign trail here this week, Richardson left the distinct impression that he means business.
...
Richardson's address, which he delivered using a teleprompter with unexpected precision and rhetorical skill, was bold and informative. Far from the repetition I have accustomed myself to in these sorts of speeches over the past few months, Richardson showed his true colors as a man devoted to humanitarianism and global citizenship. I dare say he sounded presidential.
...
At that point, I was still skeptical. I wanted to see if Richardson's newfound seriousness would translate to his "town hall" style events or if it was merely a product of his teleprompter. So I followed him to the next event on his public schedule, which was in Nevada, IA, Thursday evening.
...
By the end of the event, Richardson had answered every question that audience members had, even if the last eight were done in rapid-fire succession. Onlookers were impressed enough that several filled out supporter cards, and I was impressed enough to eat a slice of humble pie (look at what I have written about Richardson in the past) and write this post.

Now, realistically I know that Bill Richardson is a long shot for the Democratic nomination. Well, everyone not named Hillary is pretty much a long shot at this point. However, I've been encouraged by the positive reviews of his speeches and policy this past month. I think, he may start to push up again in the polls after flattening out later this summer. It also is encouraging that he is able to improve rapidly in an area that he was formerly deficient. A person with the kind of character that can recognize a personal flaw and work to overcome it would be a welcome change to the kind of "leadership" we've had.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. Good to hear. I really think that Richardson is our best choice barring an entrance by Al Gore

I'll take well rounded experience and substance over looks and charisma any time. It's also good to read further down in the thread that he's doing better in his appearances.

Will this be enough to push him forward? Who knows. I believe there is room for Hillary to stumble and for another candidate to emerge. If Bill finishes better than expected in Iowa, he could get some momentum going into the later contests.

At the very least he's adding to the conversation and the debate and that's not a bad thing.